: Police beat May 8

May 7, 2013

AMWELL

DUI charge: Brenda K. Bercosky, 58, of 29 Hedge Ave., Marianna, was charged last week with driving under the influence of alcohol and traffic violations stemming from a Dec. 14 crash on Waynesburg Road, about a mile from East Maiden Street, Amwell. State police received a report of a reckless driver on East Maiden and soon came on the scene of a crash. Bercosky was taken to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment. Police said her blood-alcohol content was almost double the 0.08 percent limit presumed for intoxication. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.

CANONSBURG

Paraphernalia, drunkenness charges: Mark McCracken, 35, of 537 Giffin Ave., Canonsburg, will be charged by Canonsburg police with possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness after police said he was found passed out on a sidewalk Monday in the 400 block of Duquesne Avenue. He also told police that $2,500 was stolen from his pocket.

CHARTIERS

Computer stolen: Dani Knight of 72 McConnells Mills Road told Chartiers police Thursday that a laptop computer was stolen in a burglary at her home.

INDEPENDENCE

Theft charges: Chassidy Trevena, 18, of Harrisville, W.Va., was charged last week by McDonald police with unsworn falsification, theft and retail theft. She is accused of stealing items, under-ringing purchases by friends or not charging them while working at the Uni-Mart in Avella, 35 Campbell St., Independence, in March. Trevena also is accused of lying to police about the case. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.

Assault, harassment charges: Shane E. Pollock, 24, of Hamilton, Ala., was charged last week by state police with simple assault and harassment for allegedly assaulting Derick J. Cheramic in a driveway at 10 Taylor St., Independence, on Oct. 5. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.

MT. PLEASANT

Wanted on warrant: State police have obtained an arrest warrant for Derick Andrews, 29, of 18 Meriage St., Mt. Pleasant, on charges of simple assault and harassment. He is accused of assaulting Jeana Main, 30, during an argument at their home after they returned from a bar, police said.

NORTH STRABANE

Theft charge: Sean M. Shoup, 21, of Pittsburgh, was charged Monday by North Strabane police with theft after he allegedly stole a hockey stick valued at $250 and gloves valued at $160 April 29 while employed at KoSports, 2588 Washington Road. Management had noticed losses from the store and told police they caught Shoup, who allegedly had hidden the items outside the back of the store. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

Disorderly charge: Jeffrey Kostka, 47, of Canonsburg was charged by state police at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino with disorderly conduct after allegedly creating a hazardous condition at the casino Sunday. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

PETERS TOWNSHIP

Drug charges: Richard R. Brzustowicz, 26, of Cochran Road, Mt. Lebanon, will be charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after police saw his parked car at 1:26 a.m. Tuesday in the Arrowhead Trail parking lot near Pelepetz Drive, township police said. When Brzustowicz lowered his driver’s side window, police said there was a strong odor of marijuana. He reportedly admitted to police he had recently smoked a marijuana cigarette. Found in the car were a small amount of marijuana, a smoking pipe and a grinder, police said. He will be charged by summons.

SOUTH FRANKLIN

DUI, traffic violations: Larry Joe Grandon, 55, of 1651 Craft Creek Road, Prosperity, was charged last week with DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving under suspension stemming from a March 16 crash on Route 18 in front of Lagonda Machine, South Franklin. Grandon told state police that his pickup truck was forced off the road by a tanker truck. His BAC was more than three times the 0.08 percent limit presumed for intoxication, state police said. Charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Ethan Ward.

SOUTH STRABANE

Fraudulent plate, other charges: Bruce John Beard, 50, of Fairchance, was charged Monday by South Strabane police with fraudulent alteration of a license plate, suspension of registration and having no insurance in connection with an April 6 traffic stop in the 800 block of Washington Road. The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

Firearm violation: Brian P. Skehan, 32, of 105 Sugar Run Road, Venetia, was charged by South Strabane police with carrying a firearm without a license and speeding stemming from an April 23 traffic stop in the 800 block of Washington Road.The charges will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

Charged with theft: Brandon C. Barnickel, 28, of Smithfield, was charged Monday by South Strabane police with access device fraud and theft by deception for allegedly using a credit card stolen from an elderly woman to make a purchase at Walmart, Trinity Point, the previous day. Barnickel was placed in Washington County Jail on a probation violation. He will be arraigned later before District Judge Jay Weller on the theft charges.

Unauthorized use: Daniel Kelly Jr., 28, of 1150 E. Beau St., South Strabane, was charged Monday by South Strabane police with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after he allegedly took a pickup truck owned by his father without permission Saturday. The charge will be sent by summons from the office of District Judge Jay Weller.

Escapes injury: Brandon Cramer, 26, of Washington, escaped injury Monday night when he fell asleep at the wheel of his vehicle while driving south on Interstate 79 near the Meadow Lands exit, South Strabane, state police said. His vehicle went into the median and crossed into the northbound lanes, where it crashed.

WASHINGTON

Theft: Richard Lavelle of 1270 Summerlea Ave., told city police a screen was cut out of a window in the shed behind his residence and an air compressor, miter saw and carpet stretcher were stolen May 1. The items were worth a total of $1,200.

Criminal mischief: Tammy Noble of 740 Ewing St. told city police a stool was thrown at her vehicle while it was parked at her residence late Monday night, smashing the front windshield.

WEST FINLEY

Assault alleged: Harry Raymond Ringer Jr., 31, of 610 Enon Church Road, West Finley, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Ethan Ward on charges of simple assault and harassment. He is accused of punching his wife, Peggy Ringer, in the face as she prepared dinner Sunday. He was placed in the Washington County jail Sunday on a probation detainer. Ward set bond at $10,000, 10 percent acceptable, at the arraignment.

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